Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Flip

Original poster

James wellbeloved dog food..

25 replies

Mamabird3 · 08/04/2015 18:27

I have a 7year old female Pyrenean mountain dog, who's starting to get a bit stiff and has had some digestive/skin issues and was recommended James wellbeloved by her vet. However since she has been on it she literally stinks. Regardless of the flavour although the fish one is her favourite does anyone have a similar type of food that won't break the bank or my nose? Thanks!

OP posts:

Gooner123 · 08/04/2015 20:03

My dog was a bit pongy on J wellbeloved,but he went off it so we changed to Burns,no more stinky bum,think it's similar price to wellbeloved.

Gymbob · 08/04/2015 20:05

my boy is on jw. which end of her stinks?

I changed to it after trying a few, we had problems with constant itching but he thrives on jw and his poo is perfect

we do have teeth trouble but vet says it's just him and not the food.

Gymbob · 08/04/2015 20:07

we tried burns but he was too runny on that

Original poster

Mamabird3 · 08/04/2015 20:14

We've tried burns but she just wouldn't eat it, fussy girl she is. She's been wolfing down the James wellbeloved, which is unusual for her, she's usually a grazer but she finishes every bowl that goes down. She has got stinky farts, bit crude but honest ! She's been in quite good health for her age as she's a giant breed, it's only been the last couple of months she seems a little stiff. The itchiness has been something she's had since a pup but the vet couldn't identify a cause :(

OP posts:

MostAmused · 08/04/2015 20:19

We switched to Wainrights which he likes too. Still stinky though!

Gymbob · 08/04/2015 20:23

my boy is 7 too, and is regularly mistaken for a year or so old.

I suppose now I've thought about it, he is a bit smelly too, but I won't be changing. DD smells worse than him

has the jw cured the itchy skin?

Oxfordblue · 08/04/2015 20:23

Have you tried the gluten free wainwrights ? Itchiness is usually due to allergy.

Chillycamper · 08/04/2015 20:26

Burgess sensitive suits our whippets

VivaLeBeaver · 08/04/2015 20:27

Millies Wolfheart? Grain free and natural.

GraysAnalogy · 08/04/2015 20:33

Having a similar problem at the moment. Adopted a bully that has really bad allergies and we think one of them is food related. Itching, lose stool, fart machine. I bought Skinners Hypoallergenic Duck and Rice to try, and DP bought some Harringtons so not sure what to do.

mamabird did you find anything good for the itchiness? We're currently trial and error at the minute after the vet can't find anything conclusive except for the sub dermatitis. We've been using a medicated shampoo for than and giving piriton but he's still itching like mad and he broke the skin today :(

Original poster

Mamabird3 · 08/04/2015 20:40

We had allergy testing done for the itching and nothing came up, so we tried grain free just in case and she wouldn't touch it. The vet suggested that it could be a behavioural thing as we didn't adopt her until she was 18 months old and her living conditions weren't great before we bought her home.. I've not met any other owners of Pyrenean mountain dogs either to ask for advice as they seem to be quite a few and far between dog! She's a lovely dog thought, so laid back and kind, loving with the kids and I adore her, i don't want her to grow old
There aren't many good expensive foods we haven't tried, I was just glad she's actually eating this one! Still hoping the stinky bum is just a temp thing!

OP posts:

GraysAnalogy · 08/04/2015 20:44

Wow big dogs! My DP has always wanted one of those.

The foods are so expensive aren't they. I worked it out and it might be cheaper for us to make our own, but I don't feel confident enough to do that.

I hate seeing him itch like this. I keep itching for him so he doesn't break the skin more but then I think he's going to start milking it for more belly rubs....

Fearless91 · 09/04/2015 21:57

Wow.

Honesty people the best thing you could do for your dogs is to switch them onto a 100% raw diet!!

Do your research and learn the facts but it's what your dog is supposed to eat.

Tinned dog food and commercial dog food is full of crap. Yes even the stuff vets try and sell you.

By feeding raw you will get rid of 99% of your issues. My dog used to get rashes and constantly scratch herself. Never happens now.

Honestly guys... Research it. It's cheaper and it's what your dogs designed to live on!
Please don't think it's expensive or it'll make your dog turn into a blood thirsty wolf. That's all crap.

I honestly hate to see or hear about dogs being fed crap out of a tin.

GraysAnalogy · 10/04/2015 08:43

His hypoallergnic food is doing brilliantly :)

Mitzi50 · 10/04/2015 08:58

Agree with fearless - after advice on here I changed to raw feeding. Greyhound's poo is now a manageable size to pick up and he no longer stinks. Staffie x had previously had a very oily coat ( which apparently can be a precursor to some skin conditions) - this is now glossy and sleek.

It is not a cheap option but I worked out it was £4 a week cheaper than feeding some of the more expensive grain free foods.

thekingfisher · 10/04/2015 09:01

Id second going raw. I resisted it for about 3 years with my border terrier who had terrible itchiness and hot spots with no obvious allergies. Frequent vet trips for injections etc however we moved into natural instinct as my dog walker started stocking it and was happy to deliver. It comes in frozen tubs and we just defrost in garage then keep in fridge . It's a bit manky but God she loves it and 12 months down the line is in much much better shape. She has tiny poos which don't smell as there is very little 'waste' from the food. She now looks sleek and shiny and is full of beans.but best of all the scratching and hot spots have pretty much disappeared. PM me if you want more info but I couldn't have been more reluctant and have become a complete convert.

thekingfisher · 10/04/2015 09:02

Oh and meant to say I went through the whole range of v high end foods Arden grange, well beloved etc etc and nothing reall y helped at all

hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman · 10/04/2015 09:06

We've gone raw too, I use Nature's Menu (and we sometimes use Gentle dried food). The change in health and lack of stink has made the small cost increase worthwhile, no stinky breath, no stinky farts and even her coat smells better.

DishwasherDogs · 10/04/2015 09:13

I'd like to go raw, but am reluctant as we tried this route with my old jrt and it made her very poorly.
Does anyone know any reasons why it didn't suit her? We started her on chicken wings, which she loved, but she had awful diarrhoea until we put her back on her usual food.

thekingfisher · 10/04/2015 14:36

you do have introduce the raw slowly as they have to build up the appropriate stomach acids that are needed to break down the raw bones. Perhaps trying a couple of the 'prepared' raw foods first might help before you go full out chickens.
Natural instinct has minced bones in - enough that i can see the bits but my BT doesn't really like a whole chicken wing so the minced stuff works well fro me

Chattymummyhere · 10/04/2015 15:37

Raw is the best food, you need to make sure your giving it properly.

Too much offal and they will have very bad runs
Too much bone and they get bunged up

We follow the 80-10-10 feeding

2-3% of ideal body weight split down in to 80% meat 10% offal 10% bone.

You can add extra things like certain seeds etc which are natural wormers.

A lot of dogs that show as allergic to meat proteins are only allergic to it cooked into biscuits and not raw protiens.

Depending on what you already feed it can be cheaper or more expensive. We feed three german shepherds and our adverage food Bill a month is £50. If we where willing to drive further I could bring that £50 down too £25. Also if your not afraid to get messy farmers will sometimes gift you livestock that is not fit for purpose.

We picked up 1 50kg whole pig
Two 10kg piglets
One lamb
And 6 bin bag size bags of ribs/chicken feet/heads etc
All for the cost of 40minutes driving each way.

There are some really good facebook groups for raw feeding / hardcoreraw (lots of whole dead animal pictures on hardcore)

TheVeryHungryScreamerpillar · 10/04/2015 15:50

We switched our springer to Eukanuba as the James Wellbeloved left our springer with a runny tummy.
Eukanuba is horrifically expensive if you buy from a pet shop (£54 pets at home) but we buy from Amazon (£37) both 15 kilo bags.
One sack lasts us 2 months, so it's not too bad.

Fantashtic · 10/04/2015 15:55

We switched ddog (currently asleep in my lap on train!) to natures menu frozen raw nuggets for the sole reason that her farts were eyewateringly bad. After 7 weeks I can report no farts, small solid poos and her coat is thicker and she smells better generally.

Oxfordblue · 10/04/2015 18:05

Eukanuba & Iams do horrific animal tests though, so would neve buy that.

My dog has a frozen chicken wing after morning walk & 1/4 tray of wainwrights tray food. She rarely fluffs..

hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman · 10/04/2015 18:55

Does anyone else's dog like the nuggets while they are still frozen?

Flip